ILOILO City – Policemen who are into illegal drugs are subjects of antidrug operations, according to Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Information reached PRO-6’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) that at least 10 policemen in Western Visayas were involved in illegal drugs.
They would be investigated, said Bulalacao.
“We do not tolerate police personnel engaged in illegal drugs and other illegal activities. We are cleansing the police organization. The guilty deserves dismissal from the service,” said Bulalacao.
The police director said President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited Iloilo Wednesday last week, ordered him to stop drug trafficking in Region 6.
Bulalacao, however, clarified there was no order to summarily kill police officers or even local officials or civilians who were drug suspects.
If there were casualties, these were unintentional, he stressed.
“The campaign is intense. Lives could be inadvertently compromised, especially those who put up a fight,” said Bulalacao.
He, however, described as mere coincidence three recent incidents – the shooting of Police Officer 1 Dorben Acap, the killing of Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido Gregori and arrest of former barangay captain Noel Odicta, all drug suspects – after the Iloilo visit of Duterte.
RDEU chief Senior Inspector Kennith Bermejo disclosed two months ago that his unit was monitoring policemen pushing drugs and protecting drug personalities.
In April 2, the RDEU arrested Police Officer 2 Stephen Magno at a resort in Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo district in an antidrug operation.
Magno, 41, of Barangay San Juan, Molo district was assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group of the PRO-6 just like Acap. He yielded 33 sachets of suspected shabu.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6, too, confirmed having received reports about policemen involved in illegal drugs.
“Ipa-investigate natin. We have not yet talked with the RDEU chief,” said PDEA regional director Wardley Getalla.
According to Bulalacao, the hotline numbers he launched to receive tips from the community is being flooded with text messages and calls – some 200 already since June 21.
The hotline numbers are 09989673651 and 09985629523 open 24/7.
“These are my personal numbers and I read all messages and entertain calls,” said Bulalacao.
The director, however, issued an appeal: no prank text messages or calls please.
All information and complaints are assessed by a team headed by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID).
“I assure secrecy of the caller’s or text message sender’s identity. Iwasan natin ang pranks kasi this is a serious matter,” said Bulalacao.
Organizational discipline is one of Bulalacao’s major thrusts.
The PRO-6, he stressed, must continue to enjoy the public’s trust and confidence.
“This is the chance of the public to report policemen involved in corruption and other unlawful activities. We are serious in cleansing our organization,” said Bulalacao./PN
